Pages

Friday, April 20, 2012

Aspiring Advice: Selling (Being) Yourself

I've learned much about the business side of writing in the last few months. I'm by no means an expert, at least yet, but I can tell you that writing a novel is one thing - selling a novel is another. You almost have to become a different person - a sales person - which doesn't come easy for me.

Heck, I don't think it comes easy for most!

Having confessed that, what is a writer to do? How does one go out and promote themselves as a writer and sell their works, traditionally or self-published, without being an impersonal, care-about-sales-only person?

I don't have an answer, but I have a theory ...

The trick isn't selling yourself - it's being yourself.

Therein lies an open question: what is yourself?

I have no idea, for you or me, since I believe people change all the time. Whatever we are, however, will have an impact on us as a brand and on our sales. We're writers! Own your work. Be enthusiastic! The last thing any of us wants to do is put our audience to sleep.

You guys following me on this so far?

Awesome! Moving on ...

One of the better ways to sell yourself is to be genuine. Don't pretend to be friendly just to sell books. Don't ask get-to-know-you questions if you have no intention of listening (remembering is different - I try my best). And don't set up a web presence because you were told to.

When it comes to social networking, the line is burred in some areas on how to sell yourself. I'll just list a few examples I've seen and let you decide: cool or drool?

A) - An "author" followers your Twitter. You follow back. They tweet or PM you, "Thanks for following: here's my blog, my book, and a link to where you can buy it!!! :D"

B) - You go to a signing and meet an author. There's no one in line behind you ... so the author strikes up a conversation, about you, and gives some pointers.

C) - You visit a blog. Looks good, but then the only thing you see and read is "me," pictures of only "me" and "my" book covers, and "me," "myself," and "I is me."

D) - You visit a blog and, wait ... what's this? Your name is in their post, linked back to your blog, because they liked what you said? That was really nice of them!

I could go on, but we get the picture. This might be strange coming from an aspiring author who has yet to sell a book. I have some hurdles left to jump before I find the right deal and the best agent of all time, but until then, I think I've done a fairly good job at selling myself. So far? Don't get me wrong. It's not evidenced by the numbers (though I appreciate each and every one of you). It's evidenced by this amazing community. My wife was the first person to really get me, accept me. When I found blogger, we eventually found each other, encouraged each other.

I found that place where I can be myself and I'm not weird for it (or maybe I am, but you seem to like it, which is cool by me). That's given me the strength, and the example, to press on and pay it forward. And I can never thank you guys enough. You've sold me.

And I look forward to reading your books.

* * *

This is not the rule, just my thoughts on the matter. Be yourself and you will sell yourself. Make whatever adjustments that need to be made and show the world what you're made of - online or at your next local writer's conference. Your audience is waiting.

31 comments:

You are so right, David! No use pulling a "Bruno" or a "Dictator" (check out Sasha Baron Cohen who never shows his true color). Best to remain honest to yourself and not put on something that you're not!

Oh, and I can totally relate to those Twitter followers who instantly DM me with their book after I follow them. I instantly unfollow them! LOL

A and C are not cool!Your assessment is correct - be yourself, be genuine, be generous. I give back because I enjoy it. I'm as awkward as you when it comes to talking about my own books, but spreading someone else's accomplishment is a joy. I do care about my followers and wish there was enough time to visit everyone. But the friendships I've established are very special.And being genuine mean being genuine all the time. The way I act online is the way I am in real life. Consistency is the key.

I agree with Alex, B is the only option I like. I think we should focus on developing meaningful friendships. Books will come and go, marketing strategies will change but having genuine connections with people - that is what will matter in the long run.

Loved this post. It put into perspective what I was already thinking. To me, the blogging community is all about supporting each other - that's what I like about it. Real people supporting real people, and sometimes that means helping to get word out on a book, but it's not ALL abut that! The best one's point out the best resources and share their journey and experience.

Great post! I often buy books because I meet and like the author. They are friendly and personable and not at all "sell-sy." And my own experiences out in the market are the same. The more I am myself the better response I get from readers and fellow writers.

Um, Angela, I'm not old. If 60 is the new 40 then 30 is the new teen but without the drama :)

David, this is a GREAT post. I have been so annoyed by people who follow me on Twitter or stop by my blog and tell me about their fantastic fantasticness. If someone is fantastic, I will figure that out by visiting them back. It seems the louder people talk about how wonderful they are, the less wonderful they are.

Great advice David. You speak from experience, know how, and with a genuine voice because I can tell...you've observed all of this. Hell I've observed all of this. Just go on twitter and it's easy to find.

Great advice David. I'm feeling comfortable with my social networking through the Internet but am nervous about things like the book signings. Like more than nervous that I don't put them all to sleep. Hope someday to find out.

I have a blog that I've put a lot of love into. I have a great group of followers. On my best days, I don't really care WHO comes to my blog, because I know that at least one person a day is visiting me. And better yet, I'm getting around and visiting other people. Typically, accountability doesn't concern me... but occasionally, it occurs to me... why do I keep going to that [one] blog? No one really cares that I'm there. It's a one way street for that blogger who thinks their blog is more of a platform or soapbox or MEgaphone for them. it occurs to me that they aren't interested in what other people are saying. I had this happen to me recently when I made contact with a blogger because she recommended a book and I wanted to hear her personal opinion, perhaps open a discussion with her. See, the thing is, I'd been reading her blog for so long I felt like I knew her. She knew OF me enough to thank me for visiting her blog...otherwise, she treated me like a stranger. and I felt kind of eh. like, why was I bothering to go to her blog?

Um, oh dear. you got me rolling. LOL :D I like people who reciprocate. If I got so many comments that I couldn't visit EVERY one who came to my blog in a day, I would post a note on my blog, saying that I wanted to, but that I just couldn't do it all at once...that I would try. Certainly, that i loved the comments and getting to know the people who came by.

Reciprocating is the #1 aspect of blogging I enjoy most. But, like you say, it's tough getting back to everyone. I do what's humanly possible (like we all do), but am finding my online time hitting a crunch point. Thanks for sharing your experience on the matter. :)

Excellent post. I'm going to have to read and ponder it a few times. I have a hard time being myself. Not because I'm a kiss up but because I'm usually pretty scared to show who I really am. I've always been scared of the marketing part and it's getting close to query time.

This is what I always strive to do. I think the best people in the blogosphere are the ones who are themselves and don't push their awesomeness down your throat. And I think this is an important lesson for the rest of life too. Off now to work out how to be myself.

Selling books has become a foreign language that I feel like I should have learned in high school or something. I swear, I'm stumbling around, asking for a bathroom when what I really wanted was a beer... Okay, anyhow, I think this is really sound advice. I don't like dealing with people who come across as solely trying to sell me something (and that just has to be boring for them, right?). There's so much more to offer, and it certainly makes things more interesting!

Yay David! Well worded. People who are genuine and authentic are treasures... Yes I can see why that would make a difference.My hubby is in real estate and very successful ... He has those attributes and I his business it's more than just selling a house, it's selling himself

Wow, spot on again. Whenever I talk about my own work, I wonder whether I'm pushing too hard... but I would hope that they can see my excitement about it, and not see it as a pushy salesperson pitch. (Not that I have anything published to pitch anyway...)

I think you do so many things right with your blog, and I would love to see half-as-much enthusiasm from my followers. You can tell how much everyone genuinely likes you and wants to hear what you say. :) And we like telling you things because we know you'll respond. Thanks!

LOL, that picture with the ring of fire is funny. When I hear the term "selling oneself," it comes with a connotation of something that conveys insincerity. In the past, when I've done sales, I found that I was most successful when I was easygoing, non-pushy, and sincere.

YA Paranormal Fantasy

Welcome to The Cosmic Laire, OFFICIAL site of fantasy and science fiction author, David Powers King! David currently resides in the Mountain West with his wife and 4 children. Click About to learn more.